UN delegation visits Egypt’s al-Arish, Rafah to oversee Gaza aid
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The UN hails the ongoing collaboration with the Government of Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and the Governor of North Sinai to support the delivery of essential humanitarian aid.
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A girl walks past destroyed United Nations (UN) vehicles in a ruined neighborhood of Gaza's southern city of Rafah on January 20, 2025 (AFP)
A high-ranking United Nations delegation visited the Egyptian city of al-Arish and the Rafah border crossing on Monday to oversee preparations for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza following the recent ceasefire.
The delegation comprised the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, the Head of the OCHA Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa in Cairo, the Chief of the UNRWA Representative Office in Cairo, and representatives from the World Food Programme.
The UN reiterated its commitment to supporting the people of Gaza. "It is a core mandate of the United Nations to support people in need," pointed out Elena Panova, the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt.
She confirmed that "collaboration is underway with the Government of Egypt, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and the Governor of North Sinai to support the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, with a commitment to sustained on-the-ground coordination and support."
Panova further underscored that "as the humanitarian situation is at catastrophic levels inside Gaza, [the] ceasefire is a golden opportunity to ease the tremendous suffering of this conflict through bolstering aid delivery into Gaza from all possible routes to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the people who need it most."
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UN: Aid trucks enter Gaza amid ceasefire agreement surge
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza after a ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas came into effect, according to the United Nations.
Jonathan Whittall, the interim chief of the UN’s OCHA aid agency for the Palestinian territories, stated Sunday on X that "the first trucks of supplies started entering" shortly after the ceasefire began this morning.
He added, "A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza."
A ceasefire finally came into effect in #Gaza at 11:15 today. First trucks of supplies started entering just 15mins later. A massive effort has been underway over the past days from humanitarian partners to load and prepare to distribute a surge of aid across all of Gaza.
— Jonathan Whittall (@_jwhittall) January 19, 2025
In a related context, the WFP confirmed in a post on X that trucks have begun crossing from Egypt into Gaza through the Karam Abu Salem border crossing.
The WFP also stated that it is capable of delivering approximately 30,000 tons of food each month, which will support over 1 million people in the region. The organization emphasized that all border crossings must remain open and operate smoothly and consistently.
The surge of aid to Gaza is part of a larger deal that will also include the release of Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance and Palestinian detainees from Israeli occupation prisons.
It is worth noting that the ceasefire agreement between "Israel" and Hamas officially came into effect Sunday, at 8:30 am local time (6:30 a.m. GMT), raising hopes for an end to the 15-month-long Israeli war on Gaza.
The Israeli genocide has caused widespread devastation, leaving tens of thousands dead, injured, or missing and displacing millions of Palestinians.
Read more: Egypt says prepared to receive patients from Gaza after ceasefire
